Pitch & refine grant ideas: a workshop for potential ARC applicants (and others)

12pm to 3pm | Thursday, 21 August 2025
Seminar Room F, Level 3 
HC Coombs Building
9, Fellows Road, Acton
ACT 2601

This workshop is for anyone who is developing an idea for a grant application, at whatever stage they are at. It will be focused on the ARC DP-EOI round, but the discussion that goes into what makes a compelling and competitive project will be relevant to other ARC schemes, and for other grant programs. The workshop is also an opportunity to learn what your colleagues are doing, and to explore potential collaborations.

This session will cover:

• An introduction to the main criteria for ARC grants: innovation, project quality, investigator capacity, feasibility (ambition/scope); scholarly and/or practical benefit

• Participants will share their research idea, and at what stage they are at in its development. Other participants will prompt them to explain to expert/non-expert readers how the project is: innovative; of quality; ambitious but feasible; and the expected scholarly/social impact outcomes. The aim is to help each participant refine their ideas.

• Information about the ARC DP-EOI round: what is required; strategy

• Open discussion on all ARC rounds for 2025, and thinking towards the new schemes

It is suitable for:

• Academics with a vague research idea in the early stages of development, including, if relevant, building a team of investigators

• Academics who are planning to submit an ARC or other research grant this year, and want help developing and refining their ideas.

• Academics who have an ARC application under review, or that has been unsuccessful, and want help getting it above the line

• Academics who are ARC curious, and/or are seeking opportunities to join projects led by other Chief Investigators

• People who want to support their colleagues by learning what they do, and providing feedback

Participants will be asked to fill out a short form to be circulated prior:
 
Tell us about your research idea (0-200 words).
 
At what stage is your research idea (tick all that apply):

• A nascent idea I want help developing

• A developed idea I want to refine for an upcoming grant scheme

• A previous application that I want to make more competitive

• Please indicate what scheme you are targeting if any____________

• I am seeking collaborators / want to find connections